The Doctrine of Change of Course

Great powers have always played cat and mouse games. The game is played to fool the target audience, the domestic population. Rulers cloak their motives behind some exalted principle. So the propaganda machinery churns out words and terms of mass deception. Perennial favorites are liberation, democracy, open markets, the national interest, self-defense and freedom. When they become too hackneyed then new ones are invented like weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. always invades countries in self-defense. As Orwell, says, War is Peace. The U.S. claims that it is different from previous empires, that it is morally superior. But few outside the country believe that. To carry out their agenda, states need an obedient citizenry. Don’t ask too many questions. Watch TV, pay your taxes and march to war.

Speaker

Noam Chomsky, by any measure, has led a most extraordinary life. In one index he is ranked as the eighth most cited person in history, right up there with Aristotle, Shakespeare, Marx, Plato and Freud. The legendary MIT professor is a major contributor to 21st century linguistics. In addition to his pioneering work in that field he has been a leading voice for peace and social justice for many decades. Chris Hedges says he is “America’s greatest intellectual” who “makes the powerful, as well as their liberal apologists, deeply uncomfortable.” He is Institute Professor (emeritus) in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at MIT and Laureate Professor of Linguistics and Haury Chair in the Program in Environment and Social Justice at the University of Arizona. At 90, he still gives lectures all over the world. He is the author of scores of books, including Propaganda & the Public Mind, How the World Works, Power Systems and Global Discontentswith David Barsamian.